Lubricant For Conveyor Chains For Packaged Products

ABSTRACT

A lubricant for conveyor chains of bottled products, set for lubricating through direct application without dilution and in a discontinual way, in prolonged intervals, leaving a layer or film on the surface of the conveyor chain. The lubricant is composed of an homogeneous mixture of one or more fluids of silicon such as emulsified polydimethylsiloxane; one or more fatty acids such as the oleic acid; one or more amines such as the tensoactive product derived from an ethoxylated amine; one or more hydrocarbons such as the white mineral oils; one or more emulsifiers such as the sorbitan monooleate; and one or more polyglycols such as the polyalkylene-glycol, and alternatively a microbicide.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention is related to a liquid lubricant that is directly appliedwithout diluting, capable of producing a lubricant layer with aconvenient use of lubricating, avoiding the spreading of germs, and notreacting to spilled products, materials of the premises, neither withthe materials of the containers used for the bottled products.

The lubricant is applied on plastic and in particular on metallicconveyor chains, whereby the bolts of the chain are efficientlylubricated. These chains are generally used in the industry, fortransportation of glass, plastic, or plasticized recipients, as well asmetal cans used to bottle drinks, food, or other products that may bebottled.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

At present drinks, food, or bottled products are available in differenttypes of containers, such as glass, plastic or PET bottles, plasticizedrecipients, as well as metal cans, etc., whereby during processing andbottling it is necessary to transport the empty and/or full containersfrom one place to another, during the different stages of the industrialprocess to which they are submitted, using conveyor chains generallymade of stainless steel or plastic, which provokes a constant frictionbetween the conveyor chains and the containers, between the componentsof the conveyor chains, as well as the mutual collision among thecontainers during transportation.

Based on the aforementioned, a result of uncontrolled friction, of aninappropriate lubrication of the settings of the conveyor chains, may bea series of unfavorable situations, such as the containers tipping overor obstructing the passage (even though the conveyor chains continueoperation), or otherwise, provoke more noise and discontinuity in thefeeding or supply of containers to the following stages in the process,for example in the filling or labeling stages. Therefore, thesesituations may lead to a low performance in the stages of the process,provoking an accelerated wear of the conveyor chains and force thecapacity of the motors, all the former because of an inappropriatelubrication.

At present, in order to control the effect of friction, it is common touse lubricants that are applied on the conveyor chains, and that aredivided basically into two main groups as follows:

1. Lubricants based on soap, and

2. Lubricants based on fatty amines.

The common and characteristic disadvantage of each of these groups oflubricants is that to be applied on conveyor chains, they need to bediluted in great amounts of water, in concentrations from 0.1% to 1.0%of the lubricant, whereby the water is the remaining 99.0% to 99.9%;therefore resulting in a high water consumption, thus in a highoperational cost.

Another common disadvantage of both lubricant groups is its permanenceon the surface of the conveyor chains, that is, forming a lubricantlayer that tends to disappear too rapidly, therefore requiring constantor very frequent applications on the conveyor chains; the reason forthis, among other causes is that the lubricants have been diluted inhigh concentrations of water.

Additionally, in the specific case of lubricants based on soap that canrelatively easily be applied, but present disadvantages such as theirsensibility to the hardness of water which results in the plugging ofthe lubricant application sprays, therefore, they should be used withsoftened water and/or, if missing, use inhibiting agents by theircomposition, as for example EDTA (ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid orits salts). Moreover, the use of these inhibiting agents provokes animpact on the environment as they are very little biodegradable.

Another current disadvantage in the lubricants based on soap is theexcessive foam that may be spilled on the floor, and consequentlypresent an accident risk for the personnel, moreover, it affects theaspect of the premises, floors, and the transported product.

An additional disadvantage of this type of lubricants is that theyprovoke the proliferation of micro-organisms and biomasses in theconveyor chains, floors, and drainage, which leads to frequent cleaningand disinfection of the premises.

Related to the second type of lubricants based on fatty amines,lubricants were found based on primary neutralized fatty amines,secondary and tertiary amines, and polyamines.

Lubricants based on amines present the additional disadvantage thattheir lubricating effect is affected when applied on high speed conveyorchains, therefore, their application is limited to low or medium speedconveyor chains.

This type of lubricants does not present the disadvantages to react withthe hardness of water, or to favor the proliferation of micro-organismsor biomasses compared with the lubricants based on soap, but due totheir composition they have a low biodegradability, and moreover,particularly lubricants based on polyamines, due to their composition,tend to react with the contents of the product spilled on the conveyorchain.

Among the proposals for a solution to counter the above mentionedlimitations, polyalkylene-glycol was found to be used as a base for thecomposition of the lubricant. Some examples of current solutions aredescribed hereunder:

Minyu Li, Person Hei Kim and Amy Haupert, in the U.S. Pat. No. 6,855,676B2, describe a lubricant solution for conveyor chains that containspolyalkylene-glycol, fatty acid, and neutralizing agents.

Minyu Li, Person Hei Kim and Amy Haupert, in the publication of thepatent application US-2004/0053793, describe a lubricant solution forconveyor chains that contains polyalkylene-glycol, fatty acid, andneutralizing agents.

Minyu Li, Person Hei Kim and Amy Haupert, in the publication of thepatent application US-2005/0059564, describe a lubricant solution forconveyor chains that contains polyalkylene-glycol, fatty acid, andneutralizing agents.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the above, it is the aim of the present invention toprovide a lubricant for conveyor chains of bottled products of a directapplication without dilution that forms a lubricant layer or film on thesurface of the conveyor chain, where the application is discontinued, inprolonged intervals between the applications, so that the lubricant forconveyor chains of bottled products is formed by one or more siliconfluids, one or more fatty acids, one or more emulsifiers, and one ormore polyglycols.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The characteristic details and composition of the lubricant for conveyorchains of bottled products are described in the following paragraphs, inorder to define the characteristics and composition of said lubricant,without limiting the scope of this description.

The lubricant for conveyor chains of bottled products according to theinvention shows components that in turn could consist of multiplecomponents.

The components are described separately hereunder, without necessarilybeing described in an order of importance.

Component I

The lubricant for conveyor chains of bottled products contains acomponent I that consists of one or more silicon fluids. The siliconfluids, silicones or silicone states designate the totality of completesynthetic products whose molecules are constituted by atoms alternatedbetween silicon and oxygen, to which various organic radicals can beadded, in fact, the silicon molecules are chains of silicon and oxygenatoms, so that the possibility of overlapping appears immediately.Therefore it may be understood that said structure allows constitutinghighly varying polymers.

In case of the lubricant for conveyor chains of bottled products of thisinvention, an organic silicon polymer structure is established with theappearance of a greasy liquid that allows lubrication of metallicelements without dissociation of molecules, and without being affectedby temperature variations. Within the silicon fluids used, there arethose provided by General Electric®, such as the dimethyl fluids ofseries SF-96, SF-78350; the alkyl phenyl fluids of series SF-1147,SF-8843, SF-1154, and SF-1550; the functional organic fluids of seriesSF-1705, SF-1708, SF-1923, and SF-1921; the hydroxy and methoxy fluids.Preferably alkyl phenyl fluids are used in the present invention to beapplied on the metallic conveyor chains and in order to penetrate inareas difficult to reach.

Other silicon fluids that may be used as component I are polydimethylsiloxane, dimethyl siloxane, alkyl siloxane, phenyl siloxane, chloridesilanes, as well as silicon emulsions formed by methyl dimethyl silicon,alkyl siloxanes, aryl siloxanes, and chloride silanes whose chemicalcharacteristics contribute the properties of ease of application, lowsurface tension, excellent repulsively to water, high temperaturestability, good lubrication to the lubricant, and moreover that it canbe used in low concentrations.

Component II

The lubricant for conveyor chains of bottled products contains acomponent II, that is one or more fatty acids, which increases thelubricity of the lubricant of the present invention so that it can beused in containers of varied materials such as metal, glass, plasticizedbottles, etc.

The fatty acid consists of an alkyd chain with a terminal carboxylicgroup, being the simplest configuration the completely saturated linealchain. Fatty acids are classified in fatty acids of short, medium, andlong chains, and through their saturation grade in saturated andunsaturated, the latter divided in turn in mono-unsaturated fatty acidsand poly-unsaturated acids.

The lubricant for conveyor chains of bottled products uses fatty acidsof 8 to 22 carbon atoms, whether saturated, unsaturated, or substituted.Among the saturated fatty acids there may be, for example, the caprylicacid of 8 carbon atoms, the capric acid of 10 carbon atoms, theundecylic acid of 11 carbon atoms, the lauric acid of 12 carbon atoms,the tridecyl acid of 13 carbon atoms, the myristic acid of 14 carbonatoms, the palmitic acid of 16 carbon atoms, the stearic acid of 18carbon atoms; among the mono-unsaturated fatty acids there may, forexample, the lauroleic acid of 12 carbon atoms, the myristoleic acid of14 carbon atoms, the palmitoleic acid of 16 carbon atoms, and preferablythe oleic acid of 18 carbon atoms; among the poly-unsaturated fattyacids there may be, for example, the linoleic acid (de-unsaturated) of18 carbon atoms and the linolenic acid (tri-unsaturated) of 18 carbonatoms, and among the substituted fatty acids there may be, for example,the ricinoleic acid of 18 carbon atoms substituted by hydroxide.

Also, the mixed fatty acids, such as the derivates from greases and oilsmay be used in the lubricant of this invention, as for example, thefatty acid from coconut oil, or the fatty acid from liquid resin.

Component III

The lubricant for conveyor chains of bottled products contains acomponent III that acts as a surfactant, which is one or more aminesderived from a fatty acid, characterized for containing alkyl aliphaticgroups of 8 to 22 carbon atoms that have one or more polyethoxylatedgroups.

The lubricant for conveyor chains of bottled products preferably uses atensoactive product derived from an ethoxylated amine, which acts as asurfactant and is associated with the fatty portion of the molecule tocontribute homogeneity, lubricity to the lubricant, and serve as anemulsifying and humidifying agent for said lubricant.

Among the products mentioned before, ethoxylated amine of coconut, alkylethoxylated amine of coconut, ethoxilated alkyl amine of oleic acid,ethoxilated alkyl amine of stearic acid, ethoxilated alkyl amine oftallow fatty acid, and soy ethoxylated alkyl amine.

Component IV

The lubricant for conveyor chains of bottled products contains acomponent IV as a dissolvent that can be one or more mineral oils orhydrocarbons, as well aliphatic as benzene, or a mixture of these. As tothe saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon, that can be linear or ramified,there may be, for example, alkanes of the general formula C_(n)H_(2n+2)such as heptane, octane, nonane, decanes, pentadecanes, alkenes of thegeneral formula C_(n)H_(2n) such as ethane, propene, butane, pentene,and alkynes of the general formula C_(n)H_(2n−2) such as ethyne,propine, butane, pentene. Among the aliphatic hydrocarbons the whitemineral oils of high purity are preferred, especially formulated forpharmaceutical processes and applications in the agricultural industry.The benzene hydrocarbons may be, for example, those of the generalformula C_(n)H_(2n−6) such as benzene, toluene, xylenes, and isomers.

Component V

The lubricant for conveyor chains of bottled products contains ascomponent V, a non-ionic emulsifier with lipophylic characteristics thatis ideal for the preparation of emulsions of water in oil with abalanced lipophylic and hydrophilic performance. The emulsifier typeperforms in this case an important role in stabilizing the emulsion andis a preferred election in the group comprising the systems constitutedby sorbitan esters and ethoxylated sorbitan esters. As ethoxylatedagents must be mentioned, among others, sorbitan monooleate, sorbitanmonolaurate, sorbitan monoestearate, sorbitan triestearate,polyoxyethylenated sorbitan trioleate with 14 to 40 ethylene oxide mols,ethoxylated sorbitan monoolaurate of 11 to 40 mols of ethylene oxide,polyethyleneglycol monooleate with a molecular weight comprised between480 and 1200, and the ethoxylated nonilphenol of 6 to 50 mols ofethylene oxide.

Component VI

The lubricant for conveyor chains of bottled products contains as acomponent VI a polymer selected from copolymers of a block ofpolyglycol, particularly polyalkylene-glycol or any otherpolyalkylene-glycol oxide of a high molecular weight, soluble in water.The polyalkylene-glycol has a general structure as follows:

Where:

R₁ is a hydrogen or alkyl of C₁ to C₄;

R₂ is a hydrogen, methyl, or their mixtures; and

n is a whole number.

When R₂ is hydrogen, these materials are polymers of ethylene oxide thatare also known as polyethyleneglycols. When R₂ is methyl, thesematerials are polymers of propylene oxide that are also known aspolypropylene glycols. When R₂ is methyl, there are also various isomersincluded, of the resulting polymer position that may exist. Thepolyalkylene-glycols, polyethyleneglycols, polypropylene glycols, andcombinations thereof are preferred for their use in the lubricant ofthis invention.

Optional Components

As an optional component, the lubricant for conveyor chains of bottledproducts contains a microbicide to avoid the proliferation ofmicroorganisms, in the lubricant as well as in on the conveyor chain.Among the microbicides used, there are isothiazolinones, formaldehydes,gluteraldehydes, etc.

Mixture

The lubricant for conveyor chains of bottled products combinescomponents I, II, III, IV, V and VI in the following concentrations inweight percentages:

(a) From 1% to 50% of the silicon fluid (component I);

(b) From 5% to 80% of the fatty acid (component II);

(c) From 2% to 50% of the amine (component III);

(d) From 5% to 50% of the hydrocarbon (component IV);

(e) From 5% to 30% of the sorbitan monooleate (component V); and

(f) From 10% to 80% of the polyalkylene-glycol (component VI).

In one embodiment of the lubricant for conveyor chains of bottledproducts of this invention, the content shows the followingconcentration in weight percentage:

(a) From 1% to 10% of polydimetysiloxane (component I);

(b) From 5% to 25% of oleic acid (component II);

(c) From 2% to 15% of soy ethoxylated alkyl amine (component III);

(d) From 5% to 20% of hydrocarbon (component IV);

(e) From 5% to 15% of sorbitan monooleate (component V); and

(f) From 20% to 50% of polyalkylene-glycol (component VI).

Table 1 shows examples of the composition of the lubricant for conveyorchains of bottled products with the weight percentage of each component:

TABLE 1 Weight Percentage of each Component Compound Example 1 Example 2Example 3 Polydimetysiloxane 5.0 1.0 10.0 Oleic acid 17.0 17.0 17.0 Soyethoxylated alkyl amine 9.0 9.0 9.0 Hydrocarbon 14.0 14.0 14.0 Sorbitanmonooleate 14.0 14.0 14.0 Polyalkylene-glycol 41.0 45.0 36.0

Preparation Mode

The lubricant for conveyor chains of bottled products is prepared mixingfirst the hydrocarbon (component IV) with the silicon fluid (componentI), next these are shaken, and then the fatty acid (component II) andthe amine (component III) are added. Finally, the sorbitan monooleate(component V) and the polyalkylene-glycol (component VI) are added tothe mixture, shaking it for approximately 20 minutes or until themixture is homogeneous.

Application Mode

The lubricant for conveyor chains of bottled products is applieddirectly on the surface of the plastic and/or metallic chain, withoutany extra dissolvent. This is performed through the preferred use of awide plastic brush with nylon bristles (with a thickness ofapproximately 0.38 mm) that allows an adequate distribution of thelubricant along the conveyor chain to form a permanent layer or film oflubricant on the surface of said conveyor chain.

Another application form is through the use of manual or automaticsprayers that spray the conveyor chain surface with the lubricant.

In both cases, the lubricant is applied directly without diluting on theconveyor chain to form a lubricant layer that adheres to the surface ofthe conveyor chain for a period that may last up to 8 hours.

Measurement of the Friction Index at Laboratory Level

The friction index, defined as the force performed by the containersagainst the movement of the conveyor chain divided by the weight of thecontainers, obtained during laboratory testing on a dose of lubricantbetween 3 to 10 milliliters, is 0.07 to 0.12. The friction index whenapplying the lubricant of this invention is obtained at laboratorylevel, through the use of a certain amount of full bottles on a conveyorchain to provoke a stress force, which is measured with a dynamometer.The full bottles are secured with a tape and the latter in turn to thedynamometer; next, the conveyor chain is operated after applying thelubricant directly on the conveyor chain. Every 5 to 10 minutes readingsare taken from the dynamometer according to requirements until thelubricant is finished. The friction index is calculated with the averageof the readings on the dynamometer, divided by the total weight in gramsof the full bottles.

Lubrication testing at laboratory level was performed using thecompounds of the lubricant of the present invention from Table 1 andwhose results are shown in Tables 2, 3, and 4.

Conditions of the Lubrication Tests:

Stainless steel chain

Speed of 40.8 m/min

Friction index=total value/weight of bottles

Total weight of glass bottles=2,898.7 g

Total weight of PET bottles=4,212.1 g

Total weight of steel=3,000 g

Measurement equipment: dynamometer EXTECH brand

TABLE 2 Lubrication Testing Results with Lubricant from Example 1 Table1 Metallic Glass Bottles PET Bottles Container Friction FrictionFriction Reading Value Index Value Index Value Index 0 994 0.3429 12470.303 697 0.317 1 229 0.079 422 0.100 263 0.087 2 245 0.084 357 0.084234 0.078 3 222 0.076 368 0.087 252 0.084 4 248 0.085 344 0.081 2480.082 5 241 0.083 360 0.085 228 0.076

TABLE 3 Lubrication Testing Results with Lubricant from Example 2 Table1 Metallic Glass Bottles PET Bottles Container Friction FrictionFriction Reading Value Index Value Index Value Index 0 994 0.3429 12470.303 697 0.317 1 222 0.076 348 0.082 255 0.085 2 218 0.075 268 0.063222 0.074 3 237 0.081 271 0.064 232 0.077 4 226 0.077 283 0.067 2260.075 5 241 0.083 265 0.062 237 0.079

TABLE 4 Lubrication Testing Results with Lubricant from Example 3 Table1 Metallic Glass Bottles PET Bottles Container Friction FrictionFriction Reading Value Index Value Index Value Index 0 994 0.3429 12470.303 697 0.317 1 237 0.081 357 0.084 265 0.088 2 223 0.076 342 0.081271 0.090 3 241 0.083 360 0.085 259 0.086 4 230 0.079 352 0.083 2750.091 5 253 0.087 373 0.088 269 0.089

Based on the composition alternatives described above of the lubricantfor conveyor chains of bottled products, modifications to the describedprocedures and compositions are considered, as well as the alternativeapplication and composition procedures will be considered evident for anexpert in the art of the technique under the present description of thelubricant for conveyor chains of bottled products. Therefore, it isconsidered that the claims encompass said modifications and alternativeswithin the reach of the lubricant of the present invention.

1. A lubricant for conveyor chains of bottled products of a directapplication without dilution that forms a lubricant layer or film on thesurface of the conveyor chain, where the application is discontinual, inprolonged intervals between the applications, wherein said lubricant forconveyor chains of bottled products comprising: one or more siliconfluids; one or more fatty acids; one or more amines; one or morehydrocarbons; one or more emulsifiers; and one or more polyglycols. 2.The lubricant for conveyor chains of bottled products of claim 1,wherein further comprising a microbicide selected from a groupconsisting of isothiazolinones, formaldehyde, gluteraldehyde, andcombinations thereof.
 3. The lubricant for conveyor chains of bottledproducts of claim 1, wherein said silicon fluid comprises a range formabout 1% to about 10%.
 4. The lubricant for conveyor chains of bottledproducts of claim 1, wherein said silicon fluid is selected from a groupconsisting of polydimethylsiloxane, dimethyl siloxane, alkyl siloxane,phenyl siloxane, chloride silanes, emulsions of silicon formed by methyldimethyl silicon, alkyl siloxanes, aryl siloxane, and chloride silanes,and combinations thereof.
 5. The lubricant for conveyor chains ofbottled products of claim 4, wherein said silicon fluid ispolydimethylsiloxane which comprises a range from about 1% to about 10%.6. The lubricant for conveyor chains of bottled products of claim 1,wherein said fatty acid comprises a range from about 5% to about 25%. 7.The lubricant for conveyor chains of bottled products of claim 1,wherein said fatty acid is between 12 to 22 atoms of carbon.
 8. Thelubricant for conveyor chains of bottled products of claim 7, whereinsaid fatty acid is oleic acid which comprises a range from about 5% toabout 25%.
 9. The lubricant for conveyor chains of bottled products ofclaim 1, wherein said amine comprises a range from about 2% to about15%.
 10. The lubricant for conveyor chains of bottled products of claim1, wherein said amine is a tensoactive product derived from anethoxylated amine which comprises a range from about 2% to about 15%.11. The lubricant for conveyor chains of bottled products of claim 10,wherein said tensoactive product derived from an ethoxylated amine isselected from a group consisting of ethoxylated amine of coconut, alkylethoxylated amine of coconut, ethoxilated alkyl amine of oleic acid,ethoxilated alkyl amine of stearic acid, ethoxilated alkyl amine oftallow fatty acid, soy ethoxylated alkyl amine, and combinationsthereof.
 12. The lubricant for conveyor chains of bottled products ofclaim 1, wherein said hydrocarbon comprises a range form about 5% toabout 20%.
 13. The lubricant for conveyor chains of bottled products ofclaim 1, wherein said hydrocarbon is selected from a group consisting ofaliphatic hydrocarbons, benzene hydrocarbons, alcohols, and combinationsthereof.
 14. The lubricant for conveyor chains of bottled products ofclaim 1, wherein said emulsifier is a sorbitan monooleate whichcomprises a range from about 5% to about 15%.
 15. The lubricant forconveyor chains of bottled products of claim 1, wherein said polyglycolis polyalkylene-glycol which comprises a range from about 20% to 50%.16. The lubricant for conveyor chains of bottled products of claim 1,wherein said polyglycol is selected from a group consisting ofpolyalkylene-glycol, polyethyleneglycol, polypropileneglycol, andcombinations thereof.
 17. The lubricant for conveyor chains of bottledproducts of claim 1, wherein said lubricant is applied directly withoutdilution on the surface of the conveyor chain with a plastic bristlebrush or aspersion with sprays.
 18. The lubricant for conveyor chains ofbottled products of claim 17, wherein said bristles of the plastic brushare nylon.